Hobo Jim robbed; Thieves steal gear from Alaska balladeer’s vehicle

PALMER — Alaska’s balladeer was robbed Monday night, and $4,000 worth of belongings was taken from his truck. The robbery happened sometime between 9 p.m. Monday night and 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Jim Varsos, better known by his stage name Hobo Jim, has been playing at the Alaska State Fair for 37 years. He was scheduled to perform on the Colony stage for elementary school students from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday morning, but had the opportunity to perform taken away from him.

Varsos said he parked his old Ford Excursion and went to stay for the night at the Valley Hotel. He is not sure how the thieves got into the truck, although he said that the back lock did not work as well as it should. When he found the truck ransacked in the morning, the passenger side front door was open.

“I don’t think they knew who I was when they hit my truck but I know they knew who I was when they went in,” Varsos said.

Varsos was driving just another rusty Alaskan truck, but once the criminals got in, they rifled through flyers and papers with his face and information on it. Among the items taken from the Alaskan songster was a .22 rifle, camo thermal gear, arctic thermal gear, a small sound system, and his gig bag. He brought his guitar into the hotel room with him at a suggestion of a friend. He has had his guitar stolen before, but avoided that Monday night. Varsos moves this time of year from his Soldotna home to his Wasilla home, just before hunting season. Luckily, he has insurance and did not pack his preferred gear, but still had to miss the show for the kids on Tuesday morning.

Among the items in his gig bag were those vital to putting on a show. Guitar strings, microphones, cords, and equipment that allows him to perform. He has backup gear, and will still be performing all over the Alaska State Fair this weekend. Hobo Jim plays from 10 a.m. to noon on the Colony stage, from 4-6 p.m. on the wood lot, and will play Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Sluice box.

“It’s not a matter of money, it’s a matter of feeling violated,” said Varsos.

Hobo Jim praised the work of the Palmer Police Department, and will issue a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the thieves.